Poll: Ron Paul and Mitt Romney Right Behind Obama in Florida

A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, found that President Barack Obama would have a fight to keep Florida in his column in 2012 as two Republican candidates -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- were right on his heels in the Sunshine State.

Obama led Romney by the skin of his teeth, taking 46 percent against the Republican who was right behind him with 45 percent. Obama led Paul by the same margin, beating the Texas congressman 45 percent to 44 percent. The president did better against three other Republican hopefuls. Obama took 49 percent against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota who trailed with 44 percent. The president garnered 50 percent against Texas Gov. Rick Perry who followed with 43 percent. Obama did best when matched against former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, beating the former congressional leader 50 percent to 42 percent.

In a statement on Thursday, Dean Debnam, president of PPP, contrasted how the two leading GOP hopefuls in the race -- Romney and Perry -- did against Obama in Florida.

Florida makes it pretty clear that out of the two Republican front-runners theres one who can beat Barack Obama and one who cant, said Debnam. Theres no way the GOP wins next year without Florida, and it doesnt look like Rick Perry can do that.

The poll of 476 Florida voters was taken from Sept. 22-25 and had a margin of error of 4.5 percent.